Lena Horne dead at 92 - now the back-story

Following is the Associated Press obituary for Lena Horne. Please read it carefully but don't stop there!

Barrier-breaking jazz star Lena Horne dies at 92

reply to post by Hemisphere


Here on ATS we see time again that much of a story line can be and often is lost to time. Inquisitive minds gathered here piece together what did and what might have happened from mere fragments of the whole that have yet to disappear from indifference, deception and the passage of time. It’s something akin to producing a rendering of a complete dinosaur from just a bone fragment. ATS members do this time and again for our education and entertainment. They reach back in time with whatever tools they possess and give us different perspectives on people and events. People and events that the mainstream media and widely accepted authorities have long ago closed the book on. Leaving us peeping through a keyhole and wondering what if?

The news of Lena Horne’s passing reminded me of one such person I know of, that has been nearly lost to time. Lena Horne was obviously an accomplished person, worthy of acclaim for having overcome obstacles in her early life. She had abundant talent and worked hard to develop it. Once achieving acclaim and acceptance in her field she backed noble causes and strived to better the lives of others. I am simply condensing the article in a few sentences. I have no beef with what is included there. What puzzles me is “what”, or more precisely “who”, was not mentioned. You will notice that part way through the article the Oscar acceptance quote from Halle Berry:

This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. ... It's for every nameless, faceless woman of color who now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. - Halle Berry

Certainly Halle Berry is not at fault and neither is Lena Horne for the world largely forgetting the woman I will eventually mention. This woman is perhaps the very proto-type for Berry’s “faceless woman of color”. Lena Horne built on this woman’s accomplishments and Ms Horne was considered at one time a younger, prettier and “whiter” looking version of the former. That was partly the key to her success and popularity. Prejudice, politics and profits launched one career and stifled another. You see the “American Idol” program that you are watching today is simply a re-run.

reply to post by Hemisphere


Who was the first “black American diva”? That form of the question for the youngsters reading this thread. For those with a little more “life experience”, who was the first black, female entertainer to achieve crossover acceptance by audiences in the United States?

Someone likely jumps to mind. That someone likely depends on your age, background and personal tastes in music and entertainment. I suspect with all of your combined answers, I would have a substantially long and nearly complete list of famous, talented black women. I also suspect that despite the length and completeness of that list, my “mystery woman” would not be included. Go ahead, think about it and make your selection. You can even plug the question into Google. I predict you will not think of nor find this woman.

reply to post by Hemisphere


Who did you come up with?

Lena Horne – Come on now! It was not a trick question.

Ruby Elzy - The opera star of the 1930’s?

Josephine Baker – The stripper that became a French citizen?

Bessie Smith - the “Empress of the Blues"?

Ella Fitzgerald – the "First Lady of Song"?

Dorothy Dandridge – Oscar nominee for Best Actress?

Billie Holiday – “Lady Day”?

Mahalia Jackson - the “Queen of Gospel” music?

Sarah Vaughan – "The Divine One"?

Ma Rainey – the “Mother of the Blues”?

Aretha Franklin – the “Queen of Soul”

Or Whitney Houston, Jessye Norman, Ronnie Spector, Tina Turner, Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, Leontyne Price, or maybe Dinah Washington? All good choices. None are wrong. And still no mention of the “mystery woman”. You see, one important answer is missing. Just my opinion and you can make up your own mind how important the missing person is for yourself. Just a little later. If by some flash of genius (or is that Internet search?) you come up with the answer before I make the critical post, STARS for you my friend! But try not to cheat. That’s the whole point of this, I want to show how someone of significance (in my opinion) has been largely lost to us.

Mind you I’m posting this thread as an example of how events, people and history can be manipulated. Even something as seemingly insignificant as our entertainment. I say “seemingly insignificant” in that if you do just the slightest amount of research into the lives of these women, you will realize that their lives and careers were entwined with and defined by corporate power and political agendas. (And mostly not of their choosing.) That makes this all not so insignificant in my opinion.

Please, this is in no way a slight against Lena Horne. Her career can stand proudly on its own. That another woman that made Horne’s career possible has been nearly forgotten is the point. We are fed convenient, sterilized truths, with all the jagged edges removed. Most ATS members know this. Most have an inkling of the extent to which that is so. And a few likely say “so what?” I am posting just another example of how our lives, choices and opinions are constantly manipulated.

What do you think folks? Guesses? Do you care? Is the suspense too much? Bored to tears? I’ll post the identity of the “mystery woman” and the story of my meeting her shortly.

Not very big into old films and I didn't know much about Lena Horne except I recall seeing her on tv occassionally usually singing during the 80's. Having read about her now, I'm impressed.

I have no idea who your mystery woman of color would be and make no guesses as who it might be, for me getting my first exposure to the colored side of American culture and history, the woman who's courage, strength and character stands out the most me is Rosa Parks.. As a kid I remember thinking how horrible the USA might have been if she didn't have the balls to fight racism. Of course I now know that Rosa Parks was just the name and face given to many many people, men and women who resisted before her and with her.



[edit on 5-10-2010 by worldwatcher]

reply to post by worldwatcher


Thanks for stopping and commenting WW. As I feared, "Politicians & People" is a forum where threads go to die. That's why I had chosen the other more general forum to post this in. It might not have fared any better but I think it had a bit more of a chance there.

Maybe it was an archetypal like William Faulkner’s Dilsey?
I'm not sure there really was one Dilsey IRL.

Last month, the Quebec Government unveiled the long-term plans for the Turcot Project. The project, which will take five years to complete and cost 3.7 billion dollars - Michael Genereux. will be the most costly road construction and maintenance project in the province’s history.